Sean Kennedy Named Thunder MVP

The 2011 season was a long one on the field for the Johnny Mac varsity team in the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association.

The Thunder won just one of 16 league games and finished last in the nine-team league.

But Johnny Mac had four players selected to the SLABA All-Star game at the league's selection meeting Sunday morning at Holiday Inn in Sunset Hills.

Sean Kennedy, who graduated from Mehlville in May, will start as the designated hitter for the South team in the contest on Aug. 1 at T.R. Hughes in O'Fallon, the home of the River City Rascals.

Kennedy, who was also named Sunday as the Most Valuable Player for the Thunder, hit .419 for the summer with three home runs and 14 RBI.

Mitch Bartola of St. Mary's High School was named as a reserve outfielder for the South. Bartola hit .275 and tied for the team lead with 15 RBI.

Mehlville pitcher Kurt McGuire and Conner Muckler were named to the South pitching staff despite not winning a league game.

McGuire struck out 44 batters in 43.7 innings.

Johnny Mac had a handful of players named to the 17-and-under All-Star team.

Dan Hartman and Matt Regan were named to the pitching staff. Tom Becherer will be the reserve third baseman, Josh Giegling a reserve outfielder and Kevin Grempler the reserve DH. Hartman was named the team's MVP.

The 17 All-Star contest will be held July 31 at 7 p.m. at T.R. Hughes.

Johnny Mac players named to the 15 and under team include: first baseman Ryan Lang; second baseman Dylan Okenfuss; outfielder Andrew Waller; pitcher Andy Oliver; and pitcher Mitch Plassmeyer.

Okenfuss was named the 15 and under team MVP.

Team MVP Ryan Sullivan was one of seven Thunder players named to the 14 and under team.

Others include: first baseman Avery Driggs; outfielder Shaun Hannigan; outfielder Luke Tackes; DH Dalton Metzler; pitcher Mike Plassmeyer; and pitcher Zachary Boersig.

The 14 and under and 15 and under games will be played July 31 at T.R. Hughes at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. respectively.